dog wont poop in city, but not in the house either

Question
QUESTION: Hi there,

I have two french bulldogs: one is twelve (Oliver) and one is two (Wilbur).  They are very very housebroken and the little one hasn't had an accident since he was six months.

We live in the suburbs with a fenced yard.  He poops in the yard just fine. When we walk, he needs to go deep into some shrubbery so that he can't be seen, perhaps?  

We are already having a problem just on long walks in the neighborhood (over an hour long walks).  We are already having problems because all the bushes and shrubs in my neighborhood have lost all their leaves.  He roots around under the bare branches, but won't poop.  Then he gives me the saddest most confused look like he's asking for help, and will try again up to five times under the same naked bush--never pooping.  Then he gets very uncooperative walking because he needs to poop, but just wont!  I have to drag him, and the he examines EVERY bush we pass hoping it'll do the trick, but it just isn't a good enough spot for him.

My older dog prefers to poop on the sidewalk curb because I raised him in Manhattan.  My younger guy has never pooped on the sidewalk ever, even in the suburb unless it's under a bush or in the wood.  At the dog park he won't poop in the open, only if he goes past the tree line.  But he poops in our very small yard just fine--even with me watching.

Like I said: he doesn't poop in the house, and I know for sure because my apartment isn't that big.  When we travel to the city he tells me he needs to go out, will pee anywhere because he's a male dog, but won't poop.  I bring him in, and he wakes me up crying that he needs to poop, but nothing.  The only way I have gotten him to poop in the city is in the middle of the night, taking him to those little raised garden thing outside of a bank or a hotel.  It's so not cool as it is a private landscaped mini gardens that are raised up off the ground and not for dogs to go in.  And even in those he is reluctant!

What am I going to do when we move back to the city and can't get him to poop on a sidewalk, or a dog run.  Parks don't let dogs poop in their bushes.

I'm terrified.  I don't want him to be in pain from not pooping.  He has to learn how to go on the sidewalk/curb. I feel terrible for him when I travel, but that's just a few days of this trouble: we go to Manhattan every once in a while to see friends, etc.

Please--any help you can offer would be very much appreciated.

Very truly yours,
Jenny

ANSWER: HI Jenny:

This is a rather common concern belive it or not.  Some dogs just do not like to Poop in unfamiliar places.

The most effective method I have come across, is to go over the top with rewards, when we actually do go in public, and to achieve this, we just keep trying those "i don't like this spot" places, until nature and need gets the better of them and they go.

Avoid soft encouraging tone to your voice during these times, as it can reward the mind set at those times.  Try and stay as clam and firm as possible, do not let your worry, concern emotions through as your dogs scents this, and thus unwittingly your reinforced the unwillingness to go in these areas.

As you have Frenchies, that stubborn Bulldog mentality can/will add to the expected time lines you could be looking at.  Just hang in there.

One other concern may be medical or diet related, such as blocked anal glands or not enough fibre in diet, thus pooping is or can be somewhat painful, and therefore only when the dog feels 100% safe, will he/she feel comfortable enough to endure pain or discomfort in an unfamiliar environment.

Remember dogs natural instincts are to avoid being or looking weak in unfamiliar places, as it mentally labels them as weak and or vulnerable IE Prey instead of Predators.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much for your help!  I just have a few quick follow up questions after filling you in on more info.  First off his diet is very very good.  He eats Orijen; which is grain free, but still has fiber.  I also supplement with fresh raw veggies, fruit, and fish oil. He loves sweet potato the most and gets it a few times a week.  I alway have pureed raw veggies in the house because my older dog is raw fed--Wilbur doesn't need raw feeding because he is so healthy.

When he poops in the yard his pops are perfect and uniform (every dog gets an upset tummy once in a while, but very rarely).  If his stomach is bad it's usually if he eats something gross that he wasn't supposed to.  He has also never scooted on the ground, so his anal glands are in great shape (I know all about anal gland problems from the foster frenchies I have had over the years--they needed to be expressed all the time).  Also, as soon as we get back from our walks, if I take him to our yard, he makes a perfect poop.

So what I'm asking is: on walks, should I be discouraging him from going into the shrubbery areas altogether? Should I guide him away from bushes and only let him go on the sidewalk?  Also, should I keep him from pooping in the yard (especially after a walk that he didn't poop during) so that he just has to go where I want him to?  like the principle of crate training a puppy--putting the pup back in the crate for 15 minutes and try again, except we just go inside and wait a couple of hours?

Just an FYI:  I work from home and am with my dogs almost 95% of the time.  This will be more difficult as they  both HATE going out in the snowy icy weather.  For a few days after a storm I can't even get them down the block!

Thank you for your help.  I so appreciate it,
Jenny

Answer
HI Jenny:

You covered all the bases in regards to food, and anal glands, so I am going to say now this is purely emotional with him.

Yes, I would say follow the Potty Training rules -  keep him from pooping in the yard (especially after a walk that he didn't poop during# so that he just has to go where you want him to.

You asked about bushes etc, you mentioned a move to a city environment, with little or no bushy areas, so I would avoid, these when ever possible, as your aim is to get him comfortable and pooping on sidewalks.

As for the timing, after a walk, you need only wait say 10 to 30 minutes, as the walking normally gets things moving and the need will be greater.

As for Snow and other horrible weather conditions, I would do 15 to 30 minute walks, 2/3 times a day.  That way we do not get too cold.

If you can figure out his timings for pooping, #like he goes 30 minutes after eating, or 6pm is poop time), you can schedule your short walks at these times).

Remember to give plenty of praise and a nice treat, when he does go in your preferred area.